The Review of the Australian Government Rebate on Private Health Insurance for Natural Therapies

The review of the Australian Government Rebate on Private Health Insurance (the rebate) for natural therapies (the review), examined the evidence of clinical efficacy, cost effectiveness, safety and quality of natural therapies in scope of the Review.

The previous Government tasked the Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Baggoley AO, with undertaking a review of certain natural therapies (including massage therapy) to determine whether or not these therapies should continue to attract the Australian Government Rebate on private health insurance.

The Office of the National Health and Medical Research (NHMRC) has assisted the Department with the review in the assessment of submissions and also by supervising the evidence reviews of the in scope natural therapies.

The evidence reviews have been undertaken by independent and external expert organisations. Evidence in the submission and evidence reviews has also been assessed in the context of the NHMRC’s Additional Levels of Evidence and Grades for Recommendations for Developers of Guidelines.

Natural therapies in scope for the review:

Were covered under private health insurance between December 2012 to January 2013 (as compiled from information provided by private health insurers);

The Office of the National Health and Medical Research Council (ONHMRC) is assisting the Department with the Review in the assessment of submissions and also by supervising the evidence reviews of the in scope natural therapies. The evidence reviews are being undertaken by independent and external expert organisations. Evidence in the submissions and evidence reviews is being assessed in the context of the NHMRC's Additional Levels of Evidence and Grades for Recommendations for Developers of Guidelines.

Natural Therapy Review Advisory Committee

The ONHMRC’s findings will be examined by the Department’s Natural Therapy Review Advisory Committee (Advisory Committee). The Advisory Committee will provide advice to the Australian Government about the natural therapies that have been found to be underpinned by an evidence base.

The Advisory Committee is chaired by the Chief Medical Officer and includes members from the natural therapy and private health insurance industries, consumers and clinical experts as follows:

Submissions to the Review

The Department received 46 submissions in relation to the Review. Submissions were invited from key organisations and were required to include evidence that demonstrates the clinical efficacy, cost effectiveness, safety and quality of in scope natural therapies. Submissions by non-invited organisations were also accepted.